FOREWORD FROM THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

Welcome

2020 was and has been an unusual year to say the least. In Bernal it commenced as an exciting year with our first ever Industry Day in January which delivered contacts and context for the institute and Industry partners alike. Our researchers, industry partners, students and external funding agencies shared and considered the future and all looked bright. In February there was, in the background, a sense that a tsunami was coming from the East but the hope was this would pass quickly. Then March 12th came and everything changed, changed utterly and yet another terrible beauty was born.

Like many organisations Bernal went into fight, as distinct from flight, recovery mode and while messages from the external environment; ‘research is an essential service’ to ‘Universities and Educational organisations should remain closed’ were conflicting, Bernal set about the challenge with gusto. It was the first entity in UL to return to work in early June and laid the pathway for others to follow. That energy and vitality is what we live by in Bernal and it is abound throughout the organisation.

We are delighted to bring the first Bernal Institute report which demonstrates how, in a crisis, the spirit of the community has not only achieved targets, they have been surpassed beyond all expectations. This is evident in our publication quality and quantity in the year. Our renewed membership within 2020 has led the way here.

This report gives a snapshot of some of the outstanding research that is taking place in Bernal. We also take some time to explain our strategy to become world leading in structured materials and on how we are tackling global grand challenges and UN sustainable development goals in the areas of Health, Energy and the Environment. In this report, we showcase just some of the 65 Principal Investigators (PIs) but there is a lot more happening than can be shared in a single report across our four research clusters of Bio Materials, Composite Materials, Molecular & Nano Materials and Process Engineering. One of our most significant outputs in Bernal are our people and especially our PhD student graduates. Through YESBernal we work on a daily basis to enhance the student experience but also to develop the careers of the academics and industrialists of the future. We acknowledge that group in particular for their continued dedication and exuberance for the role.

The year concluded with our first ever International Virtual Research Day where we reached out to 20,000 personnel globally. We had research presentations from colleagues from the UK, Germany, the US, Canada, Italy as well as Bernal colleagues. It was a day of celebration with our research awards to our community completing the day.

We look at 2021 and future years with enthusiasm. Internally we have great plans for revitalising teaching programmes at under and post graduate level across departments within UL. We are targeting significant EU programmes at the Excellent Science level while also engaging with our chosen Industry partners on international and national platforms. Our support team and Instrument Scientists are, as always ready, willing and able to assist in all of the above.

Our cover photo is taken from our recently hosted International research day astrum.ie. Astrum is the Latin word meaning heavenly body or constellation. We invite you to come on this journey with us in Bernal as we ‘reach for the stars’.

Luuk van der Wielen Jon O’Halloran Director General Manager

Piracetam Kaleidoscope by Dr Rodrigo Soto and Laura Gonzalez 2020 Bernal Institute Research Image of the Year

Like many in recent times we have suffered loss within our community. The indefatigable Ian Quinn, member of our supervisory board lost his long battle with illness during the year. And like with so many others in these times we were unable to express our sympathies in person with his family. We would like to acknowledge Ian’s unflinching support and commitment to Bernal, a true innovator, an inspiration and a friend.

2020 also saw the very untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend and colleague, David O’Connor - Doc, as he was known to us all, was in the final year of his PhD studies under the supervision of Professor Mikah Walsh. One of the bright young lights within Bernal, a character whose personality touched all that were in his presence, his passing has left a void in our community that will never be replaced.

Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.